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Henry Saperstein; Produced and Distributed TV Shows, Movies

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Henry G. Saperstein, producer and distributor of such beloved television shows as “Ding Dong School,” “Mister Magoo,” “Dick Tracy” and “The Gerald McBoing Boing Show,” has died. He was 80.

Saperstein died Wednesday in Beverly Hills of cancer.

As owner of UPA Productions, he produced motion pictures, including Woody Allen’s 1966 “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?,” in which a Japanese spy movie was redubbed in English and given a different plot.

His other films included “Gay Puree” with the voice of Judy Garland, “Swan Lake,” “Monster Zero,” “War of the Gargantuas” and “Hell in the Pacific.” He was executive producer of the 1997 Disney film “Mister Magoo.”

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In partnership with Toho of Japan for 25 years, Saperstein produced and marketed several science fiction films, including the classic 1956 “Godzilla” with Raymond Burr. He also served as a consultant on the current version of “Godzilla.’

Born in Chicago, Saperstein was educated at the University of Chicago and owned theaters in Chicago in the 1940s.

He came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s as president of Television Personalities. After producing the Magoo and Tracy television shows, he produced “All-Star Golf” from 1958 to 1962, “Championship Bowling” from 1958 through 1960 and “Ding Dong School” from 1959 to 1960.

In addition to UPA and Television Personalities, Saperstein headed Glen Films, Screen Entertainment Co., Benedict Pictues Corp. and H.G. Saperstein & Associates.

Saperstein is survived by his wife, Irene; four children, Richard and Nicole Saperstein, Joan Nackerud and Patty Resnick, and three grandchildren.

Services will be private. The family has asked that memorial contributions be sent to the AMC Cancer Research Center, 1600 Pierce St., Denver, CO 80214.

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